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May 10, 2004
REMINDER: SPRING IS THE TIME TO ENCOURAGE ADULT PATIENTS TO GET A
TETANUS-DIPHTHERIA BOOSTER

Springtime finds people of all ages heading outside to garden, picnic, and
have fun in the sun. Outdoor recreation can create problems, however, and
one of them is potential tetanus exposure. According to CDC, 31% of reported
tetanus-related injuries occur in yards, gardens, and farms, and another 23%
occur in other outdoor locations.

Given the popularity of gardening and other outdoor activities, it's
important that health professionals make sure patients, particularly older
patients, are fully and currently immunized against tetanus (and
diphtheria). According to an MMWR surveillance report, in 1998-2000, only
40% of persons 65 years and older reported receiving a booster dose of
tetanus toxoid in the previous 10 years, and 75% of reported tetanus deaths
occurred among patients 60 years of age or older. Clearly, many older adults
are not adequately immunized against tetanus and some are suffering and
dying as a result. Other at-risk populations include persons of Hispanic
ethnicity, older diabetics, injection-drug users, pregnant women, persons
with philosophical objections to vaccines, and persons who might not have
received a primary series (e.g., immigrants). (Source: "Tetanus
Surveillance--United States, 1998-2000." MMWR, June 20, 2003, Vol.
52[SS03].)

An array of free tetanus information for patients and professionals is
available from the following sources:

For a variety of materials, including a patient-education brochure that can
be downloaded or ordered free of charge, visit the National Foundation for
Infectious Diseases website at
http://www.nfid.org/powerof10

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May 10, 2004
NEW EDITION: "INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND HEALTH 2004" NOW
AVAILABLE ON THE WHO WEBSITE

Newly available on the WHO website, "International Travel and
Health 2004" offers guidance on the full range of health risks
likely to be encountered at specific destinations and associated
with different types of travel--from business, humanitarian, and
leisure travel to backpacking and adventure tours. The
information is intended to help the medical profession be fully
aware of potential risks and to provide appropriate advice
regarding vaccinations, protection against insects and other
disease vectors, and safety in different environmental settings.

To allow for regular updates, the 2004 edition is available
online only. To access it, go to: http://www.who.int/ith and
click on the chapter titles at the top of the screen.